If you haven’t yet explored one of Eastern Idaho’s gems, it’s time for a road trip to the “Caribbean of the Rockies.” Bear Lake’s turquoise tinted waters rival those of its nickname, but Idaho summers are not nearly as humid as the West Indies, so grab the outdoor gear and head east, as July was made for road trips, campouts, beach days, hiking, and even raspberries.
Located in the southeast corner of Idaho and straddling the border with Utah, this turquoise jewel is believed to be one of the oldest lakes in the U.S. Bear Lake’s intensely blue hues are created by reflection of light off microscopic grains of limestone, so-called glacial flour mostly from the limestone of the neighboring Bear River Range. It was first named “Black Bear Lake” in 1819 by an early fur trapper, Donald McKenzie, due to the large population of black bears in the area. The name was later shortened to Bear Lake as more mountain men and trappers frequently rendezvoused here. Today, you will rarely see black bears near the shoreline, as they tend to stay in the higher-elevation forests and canyons away from populated resort areas.
Just seeing the lake is enjoyment enough, but it’s also a recreational paradise for camping, swimming, boating, water-skiing, paddling, and fishing. The surrounding canyons and mountains provide miles of hiking and biking trails. If camping out isn’t your thing, there are hundreds of vacation rentals throughout the area, from cabins to condos.
North Beach at Bear Lake State Park, at the north end, boasts a massive two-mile-long shoreline, renowned for its soft sand, gradual slope, and shallow waters roughly 50 yards out—ideal for children and beginner swimmers. Not surprisingly, summer is the most popular time to visit the area.
If you’re just out sightseeing, you can also drive the perimeter of the 20-mile-long by eight-mile-wide lake, an approximately 50-mile scenic loop that takes about an hour without stopping. The east side is elevated and scenic, while the west side passes through more tourist-heavy areas, and where your raspberry “radar” will likely light up.
From the town of Paris south to St. Charles on ID-89 to Garden City across the Utah border, there’s a good chance to happen upon small-scale or private raspberry stands, as the highway travels through lush agricultural valleys nestled against the Bear River range, a subrange of the Wasatch Mountains. The Bear Lake Valley is renowned for growing raspberries. Its elevation, the lake itself, and cool summers provide an ideal climate to produce the deliciously sweet red berries. Residents along ID-89 often share their backyard abundance, so keep an eye out for that sale sign when the season is on from late July through mid-August.
For a few years in the early 2000s, the area’s crop almost disappeared entirely due to a raspberry bushy dwarf virus, destroying every patch in the region. While the virus forced many producers to quit, others have started over and the area’s supply is slowly returning.
There has been an increase in berry production in the Fish Haven area south of St. Charles. It’s a quiet farming and scenic residential community and recreational outpost where you’ll also be awarded the first stunning elevated views of the turquoise-blue waters. But it’s in Laketown and Garden City, Utah, where you will likely find the highest concentration of fresh raspberry stands selling shakes, jams, jellies, and more. The area has at least five commercial raspberry growers. Garden City hosts the Bear Lake Raspberry Festival, which takes place August 6-8, an annual event celebrating the world-famous sweet, juicy berries.
In the greater Bear Lake region of Idaho, there is no lack of area attractions and adventures. Once you’re satiated with the heady blue waters, and licked your lips of sweet red berries, the southeast corner of Idaho offers an exceptional amount of history to explore. Check out the historic Paris Tabernacle made of quarried red sandstone, and the National Oregon/California Trail Center in Montpelier, also home to the Butch Cassidy Museum, located in the last standing bank he and his gang robbed.
